The holiday shopping season is set to kick off with Black Friday this week, and American shoppers are expected to spend a record amount, particularly in online sales. Consumer spending makes up 70% of the United States’ gross domestic product, keeping the economy humming.

However, it wasn’t always the case. In the 18th century, the American economy made a shift from individuals making their own cloth to buying it in shops. This shift has led to serious environmental consequences today. Economic historian Louis Hyman at Cornell University discusses this change and whether there are alternatives to the consumer-driven economy that America knows today, linked to the Salem witch trials.

A federal appeals court decision may have significant implications for the Voting Rights Act. We delve into the economic repercussions of the ruling and how it could play out in the Supreme Court. We also discuss the decline of cryptocurrency kings and food journalist Francis Lam was incorrect about what was on the menu at the first Thanksgiving.

Later in the episode, we will hear some suggestions for signature state cocktails from listeners. Listeners are encouraged to share their answers to